16 Head Coaches for the Toronto Maple Leafs to Consider Hiring

Gerald Gallant

Gallant would also fit right in: he's missed the playoffs or lost in the first round seven times.

He has been a coach in the NHL since 2003 and coached four different teams. He did once take the Vegas Knights to the Cup Final, but he didn't win.

Obviously like Berube there are traditional reasons for the Leafs to want a guy like this to coach them, but it would just the same thing as trading for Nick Foligno or hiring Mike Babcock.

These cliches don't work. The Leafs have the most money and they should be able to find the best coach, not just a recycled mid-tiered guy from the past.

I hate that we even have to talk about hiring Gallant. Terrible choice.

Claude Julien

Claude Julien has coached only Montreal and Boston (with one year in Jersey) over a near 20 year coaching career.

He hasn't coached in the NHL since the Canadiens fired him for a second time in 2021. I think he'd be a great choice for the Leafs, but to be honest, he's barely been mentioned.

I've always like Julien, and like Boudreau the reason I like Julien as an option is his reputation for getting the most out of offensive players. It think this is a highly underrated skill for NHL coaches, and one, obviously, that would help the Leafs.

Next up: the non-option options.